Marker buoy

Abstract

A hollow, elongated tubular member, constructed of flexible resilient material, an inlet-outlet for admitting and discharging air, and including a separate, removable sleeve constructed of material as resilient, or less resilient than the buoy bladder, for its upper portion is adapted for deployment as a portable, large, and versatile marker buoy. The height above the waterline is adjustable by controlling the amount of air therein, the sleeve is removable, interchangable, and is to be printed with the insignia to designate its use. The air pressure in the buoy is used to hold the sleeve and any lightweight device inserted between the two members in position without the use of a fastening device. The method of deploying this marker buoy includes the steps of partial inflation, positioning of the sleeve, attaching ballast weight and or anchor weight, and adjusting to the desired height above the waterline by controlling the volume of air therein.

I claim: 
     
       1. A marker buoy, comprising, in combination: a hollow, longitudinally elongated bladder comprised of material exhibiting resiliency characteristics permitting the walls of said bladder to expand when unrestrained, said bladder including means for receiving and discharging air under pressure to and from the interior thereof and adapted to be deployed in a body of water so that the longitudinal axis will remain in a vertical attitude, with one end of said bladder being above the water when a weight of a sufficient and constant mass is applied to its bottom;   a lightweight, removable sleeve having printed matter thereon and exhibiting resiliency characteristics the same as, or less than the bladder, and of such longitudinal length as to extend over all or or part of the bladder that remains above the waterline, with a cross sectional shape is such, that during operation, a firm contact between bladder and sleeve is created whereby the position of said sleeve, and any lightweight device inserted between the sleeve and bladder, will be maintained without the use of any further fastening device.   
     
     
       2. The subject matter of claim 1 in which the elongated bladder is constructed of polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
       3. The subject matter of claim 1 in which the sleeve is constructed of Nylon. 
     
     
       4. The subject matter of claims 1-3 in which the elongated bladder and sleeve are of tubular configuration.